Unadulterated essential oils are those that have been
extracted from particular plant material leaving the chemistry of the oil
intact and in its original state, exactly as nature intended them to be.
Unadulterated oils are highly beneficial for our mental and physical well-being.
They help from relieving discomfort, fatigue, depression to chronic conditions found in
various parts of the body.
What are and where do
essential oils come from?
Essential oils are the odorous and highly concentrated natural
oils extracted from particular parts of a plant such as petals, leaves,
flowers, bark, etc. and possess the aroma
and healing qualities of the plants they come from. As they are the
concentrated oils, a little goes a long way.
Complexity of
essential oils
Essential oils are complex as they consist of different
compounds each with different chemical and physical properties. The synergy of
the compounds gives the complete and unadulterated oil its distinctive
qualities and aroma that sedate or awaken the mind and body. Mixing two or more
essential oils enhances their effectiveness as the blending of the compounds
changes the chemistry.
Synthesising essential oil components
After discovering the benefits of certain compounds in
essential oils, the pharmaceutical and beauty industries have successfully
isolated and inexpensively synthesised them. These can then be added to modern
medicines and beauty products. As isolated components, they lose the full
capacity they have when still in the unadulterated oil.
Adulterated essential
oils
With this knowledge, essential oils can easily be adulterated.
Fully synthetic oils are available in the market whilst other oils have for
example the synthesised smell component added to a cheaper oil that can then be
sold at a higher price. Adulterated essential oils do not have the same healing
properties as truly pure oils extracted from the plant material.
Purchasing essential
oils
Therefore in the practice of aromatherapy, care must be
taken when purchasing and using essential oils as it is difficult to
distinguish between a genuine and a synthetic oil. The genuine essential oils
are never cheap as growing the plants in the right conditions and the method of
extraction, quality control, etc. are all labour intensive. Damask Rose is very
expensive as it is highly labour intensive, as many rose petals are needed to
obtain a small quantity of oil.
Conclusion
When buying essential oils, buy from a trusted source and
remember to dilute them in a vegetable oil before applying to the skin. As the
oils are highly concentrated, only a few drops are needed at a time. Enjoy the
journey.
Reference
Arthur, D. (1997). Aromatherapy. Course Notes
